By what metric do you believe a sticker price of $330 could possibly be applicable?  Consumers have to shell out $450?  Microsoft certainly doesn't loose $120 work of per-unit cost? To ensure I am not misinterpreting, do you honestly believe that an average consumer can look at this bundle and (to use your words) see a product that is 'essentially' $330?  Surely not.

Yes I believe the average consumer can look at this bundle and see the XBONE's essentially $330. When Titanfall and a year of GOLD are not perceived as the items receiving a price reduction, the reduction must be happening to the XBONE. It can have advantages over just reducing the XBONE's standalone price, but they're certainly comparable from a business point of view.

Fair enough, this is simply something we view differently then.  I have no issue with enticements, but that is still how I see them.  I also believe that the overwhelming concern of average consumers is 'price paid.'  Price paid remains $499 at most retailers and $449 for a couple of days at this one.  

You're trying to have your cake and eat it too.  You don't want to be that poster that said Microsoft is acting desperately, but you want to do everything you can to leave other poster's with that impression.

I was just here to debate the actions of a company, but I guess we can go off on this tangent.

I think you have a severely twisted understanding of why I'm here. The reason I didn't enter the thread with a "haha omg M$ is so desperate" comment is because that would get a reaction out of the Microsoft fanbase. As I said when we first started this discussion, "Desperate can come across much harsher than it needs to be." True or not there are right ways and wrong ways to say things. My desire is not to partake in the console warz, so being "that poster that said Microsoft is acting desperately" would be the wrong way.

My desire is also not to leave other poster's with the impression Microsoft is acting desperately. My only post in the thread outside of this debate was about the diminishing returns of these deals happening every week. http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=6208913 Within this debate my only desire is to reach an agreement with just you. Either I'd get you to change your opinion on the matter or you'd get me to change my opinion.

Fair enough.

To clarify, you have argued that the Xbox One has received three price drops (in 26 days), and that the price for consumers is now 'perceived' to be 'essentially' $330.  If you wish to stand by the assertion that a sticker price of $450 with these included deals is the equivalent of a sticker price of $330 without them, then we're going to have to agree to disagree, because this is going nowhere.

There are differences in the grand scheme of things, but they're very comparable. I think it's kinda silly that you'd just throw an ultimatum up like that, but I guess that ends that conversation.

It was not intended as an ultimatum, merely a summation of my point of view.  As outlined earlier, I simply don't view a console that still retails at $499 at many US retailers as having received three price cuts - irrespective of what enticements are included with it.  You feel differently, thats fine.  Insofar as local comparisons are useful, in Australia retailers are required to prominently display the actual price paid for any product irrespective of inclusions, cashbacks, bundles etc.  I know this is also true in parts of the US (I won't speak for all of it, as I am unsure).  The reason is that the primary concern for most consumers is their out of pocket expenses.

I have no issue using dictionary.com instead of wiki.  Point two could, of course, apply to any included bundle from any manufacturer using the logic you're applying.  For example, my PS4 would have been the victim of a 'desperate' price drop, as it was picked it for $AU499, which, given it included Infamous Second Son, was an astounding $AU80 price drop just 5 months after launch.

No. Point 2 has the key word urgent. Dropping the price over and over during such a short span is what makes this move desperate. Most price cuts are not desperate.

As already outlined, Microsoft has not made one formal price cut.  They have used bundling that is marginally more aggressive than Sony's, and they have had limited temporary price cuts to a level still some $50 above Sony's price.  Even calling this 'urgent' is an enormous stretch - especially given it is their highest selling console for the time period.

It is useful to apply one's logic to a range of similar scenarios, using different stakeholders, to see whether it stands - in this case asking whether you'd reasonably apply the same logic to Sony or Nintendo's bundles.

You're calling me anti-Microsoft here ;)

I'm biased and of course have my preferences, but I'm not the console warrior you seem to think I am. Of course I'd apply the same logic to Sony and Nintendo.

Fair enough.

Or, as you might put it, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

That saying doesn't even work here lol.

Yeah it was a bit of a stretch, but it was 1am and I thought I was being hilarious